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Thursday, June 22, 2017

“Sometimes you
will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

-Dr. Seuss

We just returned
from Italy, and I've been thinking about some of my favorite places. I remember the charming old city of Merano--a health resort that's
located in a lush valley, surrounded by the Italian Alps, in northern
Italy.

There are a lot of
things I love about this place, but what really stands out are the
lovely walks. This “city of flowers,” located on the roaring
Passer River, is full of promenades and gentle paths. They offer
incredible views of the river and nearby mountain ranges and have
interesting names like: Passer Promenade, Gif Promenade, Summer
Promenade,Tappeinerweg Trail, and Prince's Castle.

SAN LEONARDO, SOUTH TYROL

When a person tires
of the nearby walks (if that's possible), they can take advantage of
the extensive transport system to access more trails and bikeways. We
purchased the seven day pass called the Mobilcard (28 euros) that
grants unlimited access to all public transport in South Tyrol—one
of the best deals anywhere. Hundreds of trails were available to us,
and the best part is that we could return by bus or train when
tired.

The old city of
Merano has 900 year old porticoes, medieval walls, arches, and a 19th
century Kurhaus. There are sculptures, flowers, museums, and mature
cypress trees to enjoy. It's also home to the Gardens of
Trauttmansdorff, one of Italy's most beautiful gardens.

A visit
would not be complete without experiencing the Merano Thermal Baths—a
modern oasis in the heart of the city that has 15 indoor and outdoor
pools, eight saunas. mountain views, a park, fitness center, and more.
The health benefits of this area were discovered by European nobility
in the early 1800s. In addition, the Austrian Empress Sissi arrived
for the first time in 1870 with her imperial household of over a hundred. She spent nine months here recuperating from tuberculosis. After that
time, she made repeated visits to Merano. One of the many trails to
enjoy is Sissi's Path that highlights some of her favorite spots.

Merano is one of those special places that I could linger for a month or longer and the month of May would be perfect. The weather is cool, the days are long and the flowers are blooming.

* * *

Meran/Merano (pop.
40,000) is located in the Trentino-South Tyrol region of northern
Italy. From the eighth century until 1918, it was part of
Austria-Hungary. It was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1919.
Public signs are in two languages: German and Italian. Meran is
German and Merano is Italian. More than half of the population speaks
German. The Dolomite mountains cover most of the area. South Tyrol
is also among the wealthiest regions in Italy.